The hostage-taker and one of his hostages were the casualties of the SM Dasmarinas hostage crisis on Sunday October 9.

Former Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla reported that the hostage-taker known as Carlos Marcos Lacdao, 32, took 12 people inside one of the mall’s comfort room at around 11 am using a 12-inch knife that he was able to sneak inside the mall. Remulla said that Lacdao was looking for his wife and her lover with full anger. However, his wife who was working as the mall’s bathroom attendant was not among the hostages of Lacdao.

Initial reports said that Lacdao was in a love-triangle with his wife and another lover which caused him to commit the crime. As revealed by Police Supt Rodolfo Hernandez, Chief of Police of Dasmariñas, the hostage-taker was having marital problems which urged him to enter the mall and conduct the hostage crisis.

Police said that during the hostage-taking incident, 9 hostages were able to safely escape from the crisis while Lacdao stabbed 2 of them. One of the stabbed hostages died due to severe injury.

Remulla said that the crisis ended at around 2:55 pm when the police officers were able to shot Lacdao which eventually ended his life. He said that when the police officers shot the hostage-taker, he was still holding a hostage identified as Mylene Balajadia. Balajadia was not hurt but was expected to be traumatized because of what happened.

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Cora Guidote, SM senior vice-president for investor relations said that the incident “started as a domestic problem that was brought to the mall."”

” The local PNP and our security are working together to manage the situation. All tenant personnel and customers are all safe and away from the area," Guidote said in a statement.

While initial reports claimed that Lacdao is one of the mall’s employee, Guidote clarified that he is not in any way affiliated with the establishment.

Meanwhile, civilians were still prohibited to enter the mall at 3:30pm.